Although the majority of new mothers experience some change in their mood in the weeks after delivery, many women don’t receive much information about what to expect. In fact, many new parents only have what they have seen on TV as a reference point for what postpartum mood and anxiety disorders look like.

​Here are some descriptions of what you could expect and where you can find resources in the Washington DC metro area.

Baby Blues. The vast majority of women experience some sort of mild mood changes in their postpartum recovery. It may begin soon after birth and last 2-3 weeks. Baby blues could take the form of feeling sad, lonely, anxious, or irritable. You may experience mood swings that are stronger than usual.

Perinatal Depression. An estimated 11-20% of women experience depression after the birth of their children. It may start any time within the first year after delivery, and can last months. It is different than baby blues in severity and how long it lasts. Some women experience this while pregnant.

Perinatal Anxiety. More rare than postpartum depression, anxiety complications can present in a number of ways. You could experience panic attacks, PTSD, or even OCD. It typically starts in the first few weeks after birth and can last months, without treatment. It can also occur when you are pregnant.

A personal note from our doula Betsy: “With my first child, I experienced debilitating postnatal anxiety. I couldn’t be around my newborn and relied on round-the-clock care from my parents and partner. Fortunately I was able to get the medical help I needed and fully recovered quickly. There are two things I want other women going through this to know.

First, the most surprising part of my experience was that my rational mind understood what was happening, but that had no effect on what my body was doing. It was really, really scary to feel so out of control of my emotional and physical responses. Understanding what could happen doesn’t prevent or reduce it, but it can help you find appropriate help.

Second, talking about my experience in the months and even years since has dramatically helped my healing. At first I was ashamed of my anxiety, but it was transformative to speak with women who had similar issues and to talk honestly and openly about what we went through.”